I managed to shoot a roll of TMX on a project when I thought I had TMY. As a result, I have a roll that is two stops underexposed.

From my experience with zone system work, push processing using D-76 simply elevates the high values, and doesn't help the low values much or at all. But I wonder if there are any other developers that might do better.

Although I reshot the situation, I still would prefer not to lose the exposures made on the misexposed rolls. Any suggestions?

-- Allen Birnbach (allenb@indra.com), October 31, 2000

Answers

You should be able to do a two-stop push in TMax developer. I don't have the times handy, but you can find them on Kodak's site. The results may, or may not, be great depending on the subject and your requirements.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), October 31, 2000.

Emofin is said to increse the film speed 1 1/2 steps. Otherwise pushing with T-Max developer will work fine.

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), October 31, 2000.

I'm not familiar with Emofin. Could you tell me a bit more about it, and whether it increases contrast in the same way TMAX developer would by adding time? Thanks.

-- Allen Birnbach (allenb@indra.com), November 01, 2000.

Emofin consists of two baths. It is a compensating developer and increases the "real" speed of films, and not only the contrast of the middle and high densities. I have not used TMX and Emofin so far, but in your case I would add 25% to the recommended development time for TMX for each bath.

-- Thies Meincke (meincke@rrz.uni-hamburg.de), November 01, 2000.

I use TMY at 1600 and it pushes well. I get nice tones by processing it in Xtol 1:3. I would recommend dilute development for your TMX. Kodak suggests Xtol 1:1, 12-1/4min at 68F/20C (9min at 75F/24C). They even have times for using TMX at 800, so you should be OK.

-- Brian C. Miller (brian.c.miller@gte.net), November 01, 2000.

Thanks for the ideas on how to process the film. For what it's worth, I spoke with one of the B&W specialists fairly high up at Kodak in Rochester yesterday, and he said TMAX developer would be a better choice for shadow detail vs. XTOL when pushing film.

I'm interested in doing some tests with the Emofin and comparing it with TMAX developer before souping the roll I want to save. Who is the manufacturer so I can track it down. Is it available at B&H?

Thanks again.

-- Allen Birnbach (allenb@indra.com), November 01, 2000.

Emofin ist made by Tetenal, Germany (www.tetenal.de)

-- Thies Meincke (meincke@rrz.uni-hamburg.de), November 03, 2000.